English Standard Version
Job 29:9
9the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth;
Job 29:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
- New International Version (NIV)the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
- New King James Version (NKJV)The princes refrained from talking, And put their hand on their mouth;
- New Living Translation (NLT)The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
Context of Job 29:9
7When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square, 8the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood; the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth; 10the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. 11When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved,
Read all of Job 29Job 29:9 word by word
שָׂ֭רִים עָצְר֣וּ בְמִלִּ֑ים וְ֝כַ֗ף יָשִׂ֥ימוּ לְפִיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 29:9
- Job 4:2"If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?
- Job 7:11"Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
- Proverbs 10:19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
- James 1:19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
- Job 21:5Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.
- Job 40:4"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
- Judges 18:19And they said to him, "Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?"
- Proverbs 30:32If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Commentaries on Job 29:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The princes refrained talking - They never ventured an opinion in opposition to mine; so fully were they persuaded of the justice and integrity of my decision.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The princes refrained talking - As a mark of respect, or in awe of his presence. And laid their hand on their mouth - To lay the finger or the hand on the mouth is every where an action expressive of silence or respect; Notes, Job 21:5. “In one of the subterranean vaults of Egypt, where the mummies lie buried, they found in the coffin an embalmed body of a woman, before which was placed a figure of wood, representing a youth on his knees, laying a finger…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-17Verses 7-17 All sorts of people paid respect to Job, not only for the dignity of his rank, but for his personal merit, his prudence, integrity, and good management. Happy the men who are blessed with such gifts as these! They have great opportunities of honouring God and doing good, but have great need to watch against pride. Happy the people who are blessed with such men! it is a token for good to them. Here we see what Job valued himself by, in the day…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25Job compares his past happiness, honor, and wealth with his current loss of social dignity and divine friendship (chapters 29 and 30). He ends his speech with broad vows of innocence (chapter 31).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-107-10. The great influence Job had over young and old, and noblemen. through ... street!--rather, When I went out of my house, in the country (see Job 1:1, prologue) to the gate (ascending), up to the city (which was on elevated ground), and when I prepared my (judicial) seat in the market place. The market place was the place of judgment, at the gate or propylæa of the city, such as is found in the remains of Nineveh and Persepolis (Is 59:14; Psa 55:11…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries